To the Editor:

As many of you are aware, our elected mayor and council are about to “force” water meters upon us, digging deeper in the pockets of the taxpayers. We pay enough in taxes! With recent reassessments of properties, most will pay more soon, although property values appear to be dropping compared to last year, when assessments were done.

We have no shortage of water; our water comes from the Burntwood River, to Vale’s water treatment plant, which at 50 years old is not efficient enough to service Vale and the City of Thompson. Hydro development has affected the quality of the river; drink the water but don’t eat the fish! Has Hydro compensated the citizens of Thompson as they have other Northern communities affected? I don’t think so!

Granted, our water has never been free. We each pay approximately $400 per year, always “hidden” in our tax bills. That will be eliminated by water meters and will double or more, as rates for meters will not be set until after we start to get them, if we, the citizens of Thompson, can’t influence our “paid” elected officials to reverse this scheme. It’s nothing but a cash grab. In addition to the millions it will take to implement this program, it will “steal” millions more each year from the families of Thompson.

Who typically uses the most water? Young families with children, of course, will pay the most. Shame on you, mayor and cohorts! It’s nothing short of disgraceful. Very few Thompsonites are happy with the thought of meters, but, as our elected officials have anticipated, have resigned themselves to the fact, City Hall does what City Hall wants. Let’s change that. Take a moment and urge them not to steal from us. Refuse to let the installers put a meter in your home, at least until the election this fall. Everybody not in favour of water meters, send a message. Put a sign in your front window: No water meters please! Hopefully, with a little help, we will have signs printed and delivered to every home in Thompson for the majority of us who are not in favour of this robbing scheme. Let’s stop this!

Thank you.

Ken Pittman
Thompson